Netflix Released Ben Affleck Film Animals
The R-rated political thriller stars Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, and Gillian Anderson.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Dogs
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Netflix has released the new film Animals, which stars and was directed by Ben Affleck. The 106-minute political thriller features a Los Angeles mayoral candidate struggling with a kidnapping ransom.
Why it matters
The film explores the intersection of high-stakes politics and personal crisis through the lens of a mayoral candidate and his wife. It marks another directorial effort for Affleck, whose critical reception has varied widely throughout his career.
The R-rated feature has a runtime of 106 minutes. It currently holds a 42% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 26 reviews.
The players
Ben Affleck
He is an actor and filmmaker who directed, co-wrote, and starred in Animals.
Kerry Washington
She is a prominent actress featured in the film Animals.
Steven Yeun
He is an actor known for his roles in major film and television productions.
Gillian Anderson
She is an acclaimed actress who appears in the cast of this Netflix release.
The details
The narrative follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate forced to navigate political deception while attempting to pay a kidnapping ransom. The cast includes Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, and Gillian Anderson alongside director Ben Affleck.
Timeline
Ben Affleck made his directorial debut in 2007.
The film Live by Night was released in 2016.
Animals made its streaming debut on Netflix on October 9, 2026.
Culture Shift
The reception of this film follows a pattern established by the 2016 release of Live by Night, which also received a low score on Rotten Tomatoes. It reflects the ongoing volatility in critical response to high-profile director-led projects within the streaming era.
The film is now available to stream for all Netflix subscribers. Viewers can watch the full 106-minute runtime on the platform immediately.
The takeaway
The release of Animals highlights the continued interest in political thrillers on major streaming platforms. Fans of Ben Affleck can evaluate his latest directorial project by comparing its current critical reception to his previous work.
Further reading
Explore more industry updates in the Dogs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Movieweb.
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